Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Air Accident Investigation.

Hugh Byrne

Ceist:

918 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has investigated the new evidence relating to an air accident on 24 March 1968, where 51 lives were lost; the proposals, if any, he has to ease the minds of the families of those persons who died; if he will raise the issue of the likely strike by a missile from the Aberporth missile firing range with his counterpart in Great Britain to establish what precisely happened on that occasion; if he intends to inquire as to the reason the search at the time was not fully finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15247/96]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The Deputy is aware of the thorough investigation carried out by my Department into this tragic accident, the report of which was published in 1970. I am not aware of any new evidence relating to this accident. If the Deputy has evidence as distinct from speculative theory and hypothesis he or persons known to him who have such evidence should make it immediately available to my Department.

The matter of a strike by a missile or other object launched from the test ranges in Wales was dealt with in section 2.1.4.12 of the accident report, including the establishment of the fact that the ranges were known to be inoperative on Sunday, 24 March 1968 and this has constantly been stated by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The accident report clearly stated the cause of the initial upset of the St. Phelim which resulted in the loss of control in the pitching plane of the aircraft leading to its crashing into the sea cannot be established.

In the absence of any evidence which could shed some light on this matter I do not consider it appropriate to raise the issue with the UK authorities nor to make any further statement on the matter.